1. Introduction

Genuinelink B.V. ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website and web application to enhance your experience, analyze usage patterns, and provide personalized services.

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, and your choices regarding cookie management.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit our website. They contain information that is transferred to your device's hard drive and help us:

Remember your preferences and settings
Understand how you use our website
Improve our services and user experience
Provide personalized content and features

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)

These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled.

Purpose: Core functionality, security, and basic website operations

Examples:

Authentication and login sessions
Security tokens and CSRF protection
Load balancing and performance
Shopping cart and checkout functionality

Legal Basis: Legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR)

Retention: Session cookies (deleted when browser closes) or up to 30 days

3.2 Functional Cookies

These cookies enhance functionality and personalization but are not essential for basic website operation.

Purpose: Remember user preferences and provide enhanced features

Examples:

Language and region preferences
Theme and display settings
Form data and user inputs
Accessibility settings

Legal Basis: Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR)

Retention: Up to 12 months

3.3 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website.

Purpose: Website analytics, performance monitoring, and improvement

Examples:

Google Analytics cookies
Page view tracking
User journey analysis
Performance metrics

Legal Basis: Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR)

Retention: Up to 24 months

Third-Party Services:

Google Analytics 4
Hotjar (if used)
Mixpanel (if used)

3.4 Marketing Cookies

These cookies are used to deliver relevant advertisements and track marketing campaigns.

Purpose: Advertising, marketing, and promotional activities

Examples:

Ad targeting and personalization
Campaign tracking and attribution
Social media integration
Retargeting pixels

Legal Basis: Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR)

Retention: Up to 12 months

Third-Party Services:

Google Ads
Facebook Pixel
LinkedIn Insight Tag
Twitter Pixel

3.5 Third-Party Cookies

These cookies are set by third-party services integrated into our website.

Purpose: Third-party service functionality and integration

Examples:

Payment processing (Stripe)
Customer support (Intercom, Zendesk)
Social media widgets
Video embeds (YouTube, Vimeo)

Legal Basis: Legitimate interest or consent (depending on service)

Retention: Varies by third-party service

4. Specific Cookies Used

4.1 Our Website Cookies

| Cookie Name | Purpose | Type | Duration | Legal Basis | |-------------|---------|------|----------|-------------| | genuinelink_session | User authentication | Essential | Session | Legitimate interest | | csrf_token | Security protection | Essential | Session | Legitimate interest | | user_preferences | User settings | Functional | 12 months | Consent | | theme_preference | Display theme | Functional | 12 months | Consent | | language_setting | Language preference | Functional | 12 months | Consent | | analytics_consent | Consent tracking | Essential | 12 months | Legitimate interest |

4.2 Third-Party Cookies

| Service | Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Legal Basis | Vendor Policy | |---------|-------------|---------|----------|-------------|---------------| | Google Analytics | _ga, _ga_* | Analytics | 24 months | Consent | Google Privacy | | Google Analytics | _gid | Analytics | 24 hours | Consent | Google Privacy | | Google Analytics | _gat | Rate limiting | 1 minute | Consent | Google Privacy | | Stripe | __stripe_mid | Payment processing | 12 months | Legitimate interest | Stripe Privacy | | Stripe | __stripe_sid | Payment processing | 30 minutes | Legitimate interest | Stripe Privacy | | Intercom | intercom-id-* | Customer support | 12 months | Legitimate interest | Intercom Privacy | | Hotjar | _hjSession_* | User experience | Session | Consent | Hotjar Privacy | | Hotjar | _hjFirstSeen | User experience | 12 months | Consent | Hotjar Privacy | | LinkedIn | li_at, JSESSIONID | LinkedIn integration | Session | Legitimate interest | LinkedIn Privacy | | Facebook Pixel | _fbp | Marketing | 90 days | Consent | Facebook Privacy |

5. NextJS Application Specific Cookies

5.1 Server-Side Rendering (SSR) Cookies

Our NextJS application uses cookies for:

Server-side authentication state
Theme and preference persistence
Internationalization (i18n) settings
A/B testing and feature flags

5.2 Client-Side State Management

Cookies are used to maintain:

User session state across page refreshes
Form data persistence
Shopping cart contents
User preferences and settings

5.3 API Integration Cookies

Cookies facilitate:

API authentication tokens
Rate limiting and throttling
Cross-origin request handling
Third-party service authentication

6. Cookie Management

6.1 Cookie Consent Management Platform (CMP)

We use a compliant Cookie Consent Management Platform that provides:

Clear Choices: "Accept All" and "Reject All" options with equal prominence
Granular Control: Detailed cookie category management
Easy Withdrawal: Simple process to change consent preferences
Consent Records: Detailed logging of consent choices and timestamps
Legal Compliance: Full compliance with GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, and other applicable laws

6.2 Consent Options

When you first visit our website, you can:

Accept All: Accept all cookies for optimal functionality
Reject All: Reject non-essential cookies (essential cookies remain)
Customize: Choose specific cookie categories
Learn More: Access detailed information about each cookie type

6.2 Managing Your Preferences

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time by:

Clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our footer
Accessing your account settings
Using your browser's cookie management tools

6.3 Browser Settings

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

Chrome:

Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data

Firefox:

Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data

Safari:

Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data

Edge:

Settings > Cookies and site permissions

6.4 Opting Out

You can opt out of specific cookies by:

Using our cookie preference center
Adjusting your browser settings
Using opt-out tools provided by third-party services

6.5 Consent Logging and Records

We maintain detailed records of your cookie consent choices:

Consent Timestamps: When consent was given or withdrawn
Consent Method: How consent was obtained (banner, settings, etc.)
Consent Scope: Which cookies were accepted or rejected
Consent Evidence: Technical proof of consent for compliance purposes
Retention Period: Consent records retained for 3 years for audit purposes

7. Impact of Disabling Cookies

7.1 Essential Cookies

Disabling essential cookies will:

Prevent you from logging in
Cause website functionality issues
Block security features
Prevent checkout completion

7.2 Functional Cookies

Disabling functional cookies will:

Reset your preferences on each visit
Remove personalized features
Require re-entering settings
Reduce user experience quality

7.3 Analytics Cookies

Disabling analytics cookies will:

Prevent us from improving our website
Reduce our ability to fix issues
Limit our understanding of user needs
Not affect core functionality

7.4 Marketing Cookies

Disabling marketing cookies will:

Show less relevant advertisements
Prevent campaign tracking
Reduce personalization
Not affect core functionality

8. Data Protection and Privacy

8.1 Data Collection

Cookies may collect:

IP addresses (anonymized)
Browser and device information
Usage patterns and preferences
Referral sources and campaigns

8.2 Data Processing

Cookie data is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

8.3 Data Sharing

Cookie data may be shared with:

Third-party service providers
Analytics platforms
Marketing partners
Legal authorities (when required)

8.4 Data Retention

Cookie data is retained according to the retention periods specified in this policy.

9. International Transfers

Some cookies may transfer data to countries outside the European Economic Area. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers.

10. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect:

Changes in our cookie usage
New third-party services
Legal or regulatory requirements
Technology improvements

11. Your Rights

Under GDPR, you have the right to:

Access information about cookies we use
Withdraw consent for non-essential cookies
Request deletion of cookie data
Object to cookie processing
Data portability

12. Contact Information

For questions about our use of cookies, contact us at [email protected].

13. Supervisory Authority

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens) if you have concerns about our cookie practices.

This Cookie Policy is effective as of June 11, 2025 and was last updated on March 11, 2026.